India's Aviation Sector Sees Extraordinary Progress, Number Of Airports Surge To 166: PM Modi
After inaugurating the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Modi said the project will serve as a runway for the development of Andhra Pradesh
Published : August 1, 2026 at 2:12 PM IST
|Updated : August 1, 2026 at 5:59 PM IST
Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the country's aviation sector has witnessed extraordinary progress, noting that the number of airports has more than doubled from 74 to 166.
After inaugurating the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram near here, Modi said the project will serve as a "runway" for the development of Andhra Pradesh, especially the northern region. Referring to the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN, he said it has provided people from small towns the opportunity to fly.
Highlighting the growth and development potential of Andhra, the prime minister said the state's northern region can transform into a thriving coastal economic corridor. A foundation stone was laid virtually for development projects worth Rs 18,000 crore, including those pertaining to road connectivity and energy security.
PM Modi, who started his speech in Telugu by saying Namaskar to everyone, paid homage to Simhachalam Appanna and Paidi Thalli Ammavaru.
He said that he was fortunate to come to the sacred Uttarandhra.
"We have initiated projects worth Rs 18,000 crores. These projects will take Andhra Pradesh towards rapid development. I was mesmerised by the traditional tribal dance Thimsa. Along with records in development, Thimsa dance has also created a record," he quipped.
"The dance of 13,000 tribal women at a time is truly amazing. The Bhogapuram Airport will act as a new runway for the development of Uttarandhra. This airport will act as a new launchpad for the bright future of the youth of Andhra Pradesh," he added.
"In the past, wherever an airport was built, it would have the name of only one family. In Ayodhya, we named the airport after Valmiki; in Punjab, we named it after Sant Ravidas. We named the Bhogapuram airport after Alluri Seetharama Raju. Before 2014, there were only 74 airports in our country. In the 12 years after we came to power, 166 airports have come up," the Prime Minister said.
He said that his government has made air travel accessible to the common man. "We have fulfilled the dreams of the poor and middle class of flying. We are bringing a new experience of flying from their own locality. Major changes have taken place in the country's aviation sector through UDAN," the Prime Minister said.
He further said that his government is developing a blue economy in the country.
"We are developing old ports from Visakhapatnam to Krishnapatnam. We are building new ports in Moolapet and Ramayapatnam. Along with the development of ports, highway expressways are providing new momentum. Railway projects are being carried out in Andhra Pradesh," he said.
"The people of this state always look towards the future. Telugus have a good reputation in the software and IT sector. Telugus are showing their mettle in the country and abroad. The potential of talented youth should be useful to the country. Andhra Pradesh is becoming a manufacturing hub under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu. Investments from many leading companies in the world are coming to the state," PM Modi said.
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